Hondorp News: Thankmas or Christgiving?

Yikes! I'm a bit behind blogging...

Two weekends ago, my side of the family celebrated Thanksgiving AND Christmas. It turns out that it is an easier time of the year for my little sister to get away and stay for an extended visit from Oakland, California. So, a tradition of sorts has begun - we call it Thankmas.

I also find it noteworthy that coming from a family of 6 (me + 3 siblings), we and our significant others (+ kids) all get along swimmingly well and actually enjoy hanging out. And, maybe this is the norm for most families and I sure hope it is because drama and angst does not a holiday make.

We spent the LONG weekend catching up, opening gifts, eating, eating, eating...you get the picture. ugh! On a side note, when ever I get accused of being non-exciteable, or anti-particapatory...I come by it honestly. At one point, when all the kids were opening their gifts, I caught my oldest brother cozy, in the corner of the room, surfing away on his laptop while my other brother was sitting straight up on the couch, but sawing-logs like a champion. Good stuff!

Emma is in seventh-heaven when she is with her cousins. She is 4 (or is it 5?) years younger than the next youngest so they all dote on her to an insane degree. In fact, one night, they dressed her up in her princess gown and put her in a little basket and either carried her around in that basket or had her ride on my nephews back...in the basket. Emma thought she was the Queen of Sheeba that weekend. Thank goodness when Monday rolled around...the Queen of Sheeba was back to her normal self...the pauper of Byron Center :)

On actual Thanksgiving Day, we gave my family a break and spent a quiet afternoon at Joel's parent's home with them, us and Joel's grandma. A very nice and manageable group of 5 adults and one child.